Day 12

Today wasn't the most exciting day, I ate my breakfast, 2 mini snacks in the day and then ate a bowl of spaghetti that was for lunch and dinner, because I fell asleep for the remaining of the night.  I didn't go work out which is okay, because I'm pretty sure that was my body telling me to rest.

So I was looking up muscle facts and how to build them.  I was 15 and very toned, of course I still had my belly and some fat, I wasn't ripped or anything, but at the same time you also knew I was very active.  My ex husband had always told me that I'm a freak because I always retain my muscle.  I looked at all my family members, at least on my moms side and every single one of us was an active person with sports and hobbies and still have muscle definition.  I could go a year without lifting weights or exercising and still be the same strength the next year.  So while me trying to lose weight, especially my belly area, I want to get my legs and arms back toned to where I know they could be.

Muscle development is a lot to do with genetics. We are all born with a set number of muscle fibers, some with more and some with less. Obviously, the more muscle fibers you have the larger more muscular you will appear.

As well as having more muscle fibers, some people have a better balance of fibers. You see, there are two different types, slow twitch, which are associated with endurance exercises and fast twitch, which are associated with speed, strength and power. If you have more fast twitch fibers you will naturally be stronger than a person who has less.

The other factor to consider is that people vary in their basal etabolic rate, which is the amount of calories your body burns to sustain normal body functions. If you are blessed with a high metabolic rate then, given the right diet and exercise routine, it will be alot easier for you to be lean and therefore more defined. 

The fact is that everyone has some muscle, it just depends how thick the layer of fat is on top of it! So the key is to do the best with what you've got! Some people may have to train harder and eat stricter diets to achieve the results they are looking for, but if it is important to you then you will do it! The thing to remember is that you are better off comparing yourself to yourself than trying to be someone you are not. Let's face it, if you weren't born with long supermodel limbs or an Arnie like physique, then no matter how hard you train you will never succeed! So set yourself realistic, achievable goals and work towards them one step at a time!